Are all on their way to a secret location, for a reason I can’t disclose…
Tag Archives: crochet
Hello and how are you?
I’ve been a bit busy lately. Not the good kind of busy.. The wading-through-treacle-to-busy-to-sleep kind of busy. I feel like I’m painting the forth bridge.. No wait, that’s a song, isn’t it?
‘cos life is like, painting the Forth bridge with a tooth brush, in the full knowledge that when it’s done, it will be begun again…
(For those interested, The Divine Comedy, Painting the Forth Bridge)
Anyway.. Back to my excuses reason for not being here. Stuff has been busy and I’m really tired. That sounds rubbish written down, but I am. I barely make it to the gym, there’s just stuff that needs to be done. All of the time. So! To avoid sinking into a pit of self pity, I’m doing one of those positive posts this evening, without further ado, reasons I have to cheer up be happy:
My new hobby – tatting- this is not popular in the UK, so I haven’t found anyone to teach me. I started with YouTube and bought basic patterns books with a book voucher I got for my birthday. I’m not very good, but I like learning something new. And it’s really helping my empathise with my beginner crochet people! So, I managed this:
My babies – not quite so babyish, still very cute. Biggest is at that stage where sentences are overly complicated… “Mama, what’s today after I go to sleep?” Is a favourite. And in true toddler fashion, everyone stinks/is stinky at the moment. And every game must have a story, and there must be a reason for everything, and he must know what it is. He starts school nursery next week, so I can join the millions of people posting pictures of their kids in school uniform on Facebook and Instagram. Littlest is growing up too, he tried putting words altogether for the first time last week. His first attempt at a sentence was actually the same as his big brothers – more cookie please! This came out as ‘more cookie peas’ but I got it (and he more cookie). He’s like a small bulldozer and is incredibly tough (I think his big bro taught him that). Today he is sporting circular bruises on his head- the same shape as the toy he was running with at nursery and landed head first on, according to the accident report! Tomorrow is the last day that the boys will be in daycare together, near my work. That makes me sad! So back to happy thoughts…
I decorated my bathroom – well almost, I need to paint the floor. But I did it all by myself (well, I didn’t attach the cupboard to the wall). I even painted a frame to match and made a crochet thing to make it look pretty.
I haven’t killed my chilli plants yet
Work – should never be on a happy list unless you have your dream job. Which I don’t. I don’t even know what that would be! But anyway, going back to work after maternity leave is awful. It feel’s like you’ve been consigned to the scrap heap for being a mammy for a bit. So.. A few months down the line, it’s getting a bit better, I think. This can only be a good thing and therefore is on my happy list.
I’m running out of happy things… I’ve seen more of some of my family recently which is happysad. Happy for seeing them, sad cos the reasons for seeing them are sad. (And if happysad isn’t a word, it should be).
Right, I’m good at waffling on about nonsense, I think we’ve ascertained that. Maybe I should practice being good at sleeping now.
Goodnight folks!
Crochet 101 – sc in the round
Working in the round with Single Crochet
Note: This post is written using US terms, for UK crocheters, replace each single crochet (sc) with a double crochet (dc)
If you’ve gotten the hang of working in rows, and counting your stitches, it’s time to try something different….
A few tips:
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Use a stitch marker to mark either the first or last stitch in a row, so you don’t get lost.
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You can either join the last sc in the row to the first, using a slip stitch and then chain 1 to start the next row, or simply continue to work round in a spiral. It doesn’t make a lot of difference, as long as you use a stitch marker to count your rows, I think that working in a spiral makes a nicer pattern.
 Pen Pot
 Chain 2
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6sc in the 2nd ch from the hook (6sc)
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2sc in each sc (12sc)
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1sc in next sc, 2sc in next sc, to end (18 sc)
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1sc in next 2sc, 2sc in next st (24sc)
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1sc in next 3sc, 2sc in next st (30sc)
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1sc in next 4sc, 2sc in next st (36sc)
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sc in back loops only round (36sc)
8-20 sc round (36 sc each row)
To finish – slip stitch in next sc, fasten off.
Roll a piece of card inside your pot to make it more sturdy.
Why not try:
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Changing colours to make a stripy pot
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Making different sized pots to hold different things
Crochet 101 – Single Crochet – How to
Single Crochet
Single Crochet, (abbreviated as sc) – US terms.
Double Crochet (dc) – UK terms
Start with a chain of your desired length (this is however many single crochet stitches you want to make, plus 1 extra chain stitch)
1. Insert hook in the second chain from the hook and yo
2. Pull the loop you just made through the next one, yo again
3. Pull the loop you just made through the other 2 loops.Â
You have completed your first single crochet stitch. Insert your hook in the next chain stitch to continue.
Crochet 101 – Getting Started
Getting started
Holding the hookÂ
Most people hold the hook like a pencil, as shown below:
Slip knot:
Crochet usually starts with a slip knot. To make one:
- Make a loop of wool around your fingers
- Pull a second loop through the first
- Pull tight and adjust loop to the right size (to fit your hook)
Â
Chain Stitch:Â
This is the most simple crochet stitch, but is an essential part of nearly all types of crochet.
Start with a slip knot.
1. Loop the wool over the hook (yo)
You now have 2 loops on your hookÂ
2. Pull the new loop through the original one
You are left with 1 loop, and have made 1 chain stitch
Your finished chain should look similar to ‘finger knitting’ but more consistent, as using a hook means stitches should always be a similar size.
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Joining a chain with a slip stitch:
Â
Push the hook through the middle of the first chain made
Â
Make a loop of wool over the hook, and pull through the original loops, leaving the new loop on the hook and joining the start and end of the chain together, creating a circle.
Â
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Abbreviations:
Ch – chain stitch (eg 3ch means 3 chain stitches)
Yo (also written yoh) – Yarn over hook –looping the wool over the hook to create a new loop
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Practicing chain and slip stitches – a Little Flower:
Start with a slipknot
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Chain 15, and join with a slip stitch
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*(chain 7, miss 2 stiches, slip stitch in next stitch)
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repeat from * 4 times
 Fasten off
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